In Indonesia, IIRC, being publicly an atheist is technically legal, but will get you killed, and nobody would convict your murderers. Atheists are seen there the way paedophiles are seen elsewhere.
I once had a coworker react to my atheism like that and I was so proud of myself for saying in my second language “what good does your religion bring when you would treat me like that for my beliefs while I treat you well?” It actually seemed to sink in, at least for all of our other (religious) coworkers who were, uh, forming a circle around us.
In countries that collect church taxes on behalf of the church, it can be necessary to officially de-register your religion to avoid paying taxes to the church.
A lot of churches/temples are membership-based. You can probably still attend sermons and the like in most cases if you’re not a member, but they won’t let you have a wedding, baptize your baby etc. in their temple.
Wait, you can get an atheist ID card?
American Atheists is an organization that will happily take dues and send you a membership card in return.
In some countries, your religion is on your national id. See, for example, Indonesia or Thailand. Greece had it until 2005.
In some of these cases, you could literally have government id that says “Atheist”.
But it is largely a figure of speech. It means you not only identify with a group, but publicly identify with a ground.
In Indonesia, IIRC, being publicly an atheist is technically legal, but will get you killed, and nobody would convict your murderers. Atheists are seen there the way paedophiles are seen elsewhere.
I once had a coworker react to my atheism like that and I was so proud of myself for saying in my second language “what good does your religion bring when you would treat me like that for my beliefs while I treat you well?” It actually seemed to sink in, at least for all of our other (religious) coworkers who were, uh, forming a circle around us.
Jesus fuck
I don’t ever see it being helpful in life to register your religion.
In countries that collect church taxes on behalf of the church, it can be necessary to officially de-register your religion to avoid paying taxes to the church.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/09/22/in-some-european-countries-church-membership-means-paying-more-taxes/
It’s mostly in death so people put you in the right cemetery.
I would worry more about being rounded up depending on your id and who’s in charge than being put in the right place.
A lot of churches/temples are membership-based. You can probably still attend sermons and the like in most cases if you’re not a member, but they won’t let you have a wedding, baptize your baby etc. in their temple.
I know that the Satanic Temple has membership cards you can buy. I’m sure there’s probably other organizations out there that do as well.